From my heart to yours – The Desiderata: A Reading by Stan Faryna

Desiderata: Reading by @Faryna

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by Stan Faryna

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Maya Angelou – Being a gift unto others #rise

I fed upon her words

by Stan Faryna

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Maya Angelou, Still I Rise

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She stood shoulders above

She was no god, priestess, queen, diplomat nor elected official, but Maya Angelou exercised the greatest of all powers in creation. She could speak a word and it was done. She was blessed from above like few others. I may be mistaken but I understood her power came by faith and grace.

I also understood that this gentle woman moved mountains with her words. She spoke to stones and they beat again as hearts – even if only for a moment.

Ordinarily, I would join the world in it’s gentle wish for rest for a beloved. But I can not say RIP Maya Angelou. Do not misunderstand me, I have the greatest respect for the woman. Instead, my heart shouts out in joy – RISE HIGHER. RISE UNTO THE GLORY! And I do not believe there is rest in the glory. But greater works. Like the works of stars. Works that never end. Because without their undying light, darkness would overcome.

Michael Jackson

I remember her eulogy for Michael Jackson, “We had him.” I remember how she perfectly captured the memory of the king of pop – that tragic, tortured, brave-hearted hero of our time.

“His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us.”

I do not know if poets will capture Maya Angelou as she captured Michael Jackson with words that memorialize a man like no stone or gold could ever have done.

How shall we rise?

I do not know if it can be said of her that we had her. Oh, please, please do not misunderstand me. She gave herself to us. She gave us fire, wind, water, air and earth. She told us to unfold our unseen wings. But only those who had ears to listen, heard her. Only those who had eyes to see, saw Maya Angelou. Only those who had ears, heard.

Though I am not a woman or African American. I rose upon her words. And still I rise. She spoke to us all.

Though I am not a woman, she reminded me that I am phenomenal, that my smile shines like the sun and, most of all, that my head, heart and spirit shall not be oppressed by demonic contempt and conceits.

Be a gift unto others

Maya Angelou was gift unto us. That is her greatest gift; it goes beyond the beating of words. She embodied a rare and precious wisdom.

Our gifts are not given for us to enjoy alone, recklessly or stupidly. We were created to be gifts unto each other. This is how we rise. We rise, together.

 

Stan Faryna
28 May 2014
Fairfax, Virginia

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43. Happy Birthday to Me.

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What is meant to be, will be. Period.

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I’ve said it before. It’s nothing new. But I still believe it to be true.

What is meant to be, will be. Nothing can stop it!

What am I talking about?

I’m not going to explain it any better than I did in a past podcast:

Confessions of a freak-geek-misfit and time agent in exile.

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Thanks for stopping by and, thank you, for being a joy and inspiration in my life.

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Stan Faryna
22 October 2012
Bucharest, Romania

Two good hands ain’t enough – episode 4 of an epic, end of the world story

A science fiction novel about the end of the world, love, money, leadership, MMORPGs, zombies, alien technology and everything else.

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Episode One: The heart of a hero
Episode Two: Love hurts
Episode Three: God speed your love

Episodes and/or related writing are published on this blog – most Mondays and Wednesdays. Please subscribe to this blog to get a reminder when the next episode is published. Subscriptions are free.

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Iron Maiden, The Trooper

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The Book of Carrot

Book One: Principal Virtues

Chapter One: Love is a battlefield

Episode Four: Two good hands ain’t enough

Audience: Adult

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Norocul este din sticla, cand incepe sa straluceasca, se sparge.

Luck is like glass. When it starts to shine, it breaks.

A Romanian Proverb

Love hurts

A science fiction story about the end of the world, true love, destiny, beauty, heroes, and everything else.

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Previous Episode

Episodes and/or related writing are published on this blog – most Mondays and Wednesdays. Please subscribe to this blog to get a reminder when the next episode is published. Subscriptions are free.

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Enrique Iglesias, Hero

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The Book of Carrot

Book One: Principal Virtues

Chapter One: Love is a battlefield

Episode Two: Love hurts

Audience: Adult

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George, John and Hachi waited at the Cretulescu Palace entrance of Cismigiu Park. Anca was meeting them there. Anca’s cousin, Cristina, and one of her girlfriends were waiting for her at La Biblioteca – the last karoake bar in Bucharest.

John was doing things on his tablet computer. Hachi was sniffing tree trunks. George was bored.

“Whatcha doing?”

“Mixing some video of Hachi for his blog.”

“How many subscribers do you have now?”

“One million – more or less.”

“That’s EPIC! One million subscribers. You’re up 100k in a week!”

The heart of a hero

Notes:

Some of you may remember that I had started writing a sci-fi novel about the end of the world. Some of that story has changed. Here’s my latest rewrite.

Episodes and/or related writing are published on this blog – most Mondays and Wednesdays. Please subscribe to this blog to get a reminder when the next episode is published. Subscriptions are free.

Stan

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Tina Turner, We Don’t Need Another Hero

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The Book of Carrot

Book One: Principal Virtues

Chapter One: Love is a battlefield

Episode One: The heart of a hero

Audience: Adult

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Toate drumurile duc la Roma.

All roads lead to Rome.

A Romanian Proverb

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The dark, long night was endless. John’s heart was still pounding from the death match that he had just won an hour ago. Below, the dead dragged their feet.

“You are so totally epic!” whispered George excitedly.

The Long Road of Hope. And exercises in procrastination.

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October 2023

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Tina Turner, We Don’t Need Another Hero

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I’m working again on my science fiction novel. The first book of many (or so I like to say to myself). I attempt now the second rewrite.

“Do,” says Yoda.

“Oh – I’m facing a mountain of do, little rodent-man,” I reply to the venerable and wise Jedi Master.

The little dude wanders off muttering to himself – it sounds like the hushed barks of a dreaming dog.

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Didn’t we almost have it all! #RIP Whitney Houston

Didn’t we almost have it all!

A tribute and apology to Whitney Houston.

by Stan Faryna

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Stayin’ Alive: @BruceSallan @lilachbullock @Billy_Delaney @TheJackB @StartYourNovel

blog soup 02.03.2012

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Stayin’ Alive: Pulp Fiction, Silly Walks, and TGIF!

by Stan Faryna

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Bee Gees, Stayin’ Alive

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1. The REAL Differences Between Men and Women, Part One by Bruce Sallan

Bruce says the sexes are different.

Maybe, they are. [wink]

My comment:

Garl Gustav Jung may have described a man’s soul in feminine-like terms. And a woman’s soul in masculine-like terms.

That said, let it be known that I have a good relationship with my inner, sexy, blonde. She’s a sex bomb. And a princess!

For example, I turn up the volume on my lap top and let the music play.

It starts with a little Haddaway: 

No laughing please. That includes you, Betsy.

After I have skipped around the apartment in my underwear, lifted my arms high, let my hair swing, and spun around a few times to Haddaway, I throw Seal up on the wide screen. 

Seal is so sexy! And Heidi, OMG!

I hold my lighter lit until my thumb has second degree burns. But I keep holding it lit. I don’t let the light die. Not me.

Then, I grab a pillow and bop the white chow chow on the head as Cyndi Lauper tells it like it is.

The white chow chow scurries to hide under the dinner table.

Did I hear a giggle? Don’t! Period.

I hop and skip to the bathroom, light a dozen mango-scented candles, dump two pounds of rose-scented salt into the jacuzzi tub and let the tub to fill.

By this point, Seal is back again on the wide screen. Because I feel amazing!

I’m back in the bathroom, swinging my shoulders to the beat of Seal’s song as I rub Kiehl’s Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub in tiny circles across my forehead, around my eyes and lips, and under my chin.

I rinse off the Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub and prepare Dr. Hauschka’s Cleansing Clay Mask.

Enigma’s Return to Innocence is playing now.

The tub is full. I turn on the jacuzzi jets. 

Rose fragrance fills the room as the water froths and bubbles. I close my eyes and imagine standing in the Bulgarian valley of the roses in the last week of May. Kilometers (miles) of pink Dasmascus roses about to bloom.

I step slowly in the hot water and then slide into the tub.

The world falls away. In the distance, I hear Enya’s Orinoco Flow.

I see the waves break against the bow. The sails flap and the boom throws starboard. I lean out over the moving water as the sunfish lifts and dances across the emerald ocean waves.

The sun sparkles across the water like the smile of God.

Eyes still closed, I reach over, unwrap a Mon Cheri, and touch it to my lips. I place it between my teeth and bite gently, enjoying chocolate, sweet liquor, and cherry in their separate flavors.

Vangelis’ Last Mohican comes on.

I kick up some water.

I shout out to my love:

You stay alive, no matter what occurs! I will find you. No matter how long it takes, no matter how far, I will find you.

I throw a bar of rose soap at a bottle of Yes-to-carrots shampoo. The enemy falls from the ridge to their death.

I throw a bar of L’Occitane Verbena at a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s Magical Peppermint soap. The enemy slides into the churning waters of death’s cup.

Enya’s May It Be plays.

I stretch. I feel myself alive. I feel gentle and pretty.

Then there’s a sound. A bubble rises to the surface. And it doesn’t smell so pretty.
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Subscribe to Bruce Sallan’s Blog

Need more Bruce Sallan? Check out the following:

What Will I leave My Boys

Value, Money, Our Kids, and the Real World

Money Money Money and More Money

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2. 7 Reasons Why Networking Is A Waste Of Time by Rob Brown

Rob Brown is guest posting for Lilach Bullock.

Rob suggests that the indiscriminate emphasis on networking is foolish.

My comment:

There is something amazing about connecting with other human beings. It’s uplifting. Our hearts and minds are often enlarged in the engagement. We discover ourselves through others. We discover others. The world!

If we are fortunate, we see the gift that the other is for us. And also fortunate – if they see the gift that we are to them.

Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31

Regardless of the event, platform, or attendance, what really counts is your attitude, where your heart is, and your commitment to love, give, and shine. 

Curate people (not content), connect others with each other, and unleash the dreams and beauty of others to shine out in this world!

Thanks Lilach and Rob for the inspiration!
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Subscribe to Lilach Bullock’s blog.

Need more Lilach Bullock? Check out the following:

Social Media Experts – How to spot the fake ones

Why you should be guest blogging

How Often Should You Write a Blog Post
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3. Is this the year of video for blogging and marketing your business? by Billy Delaney

Billy is not the only one excited about Youtube. RWW hails YouTube as a change agent for global economic transformation.

Asks Billy:

This year I have read that Blogging is going to be taken over by video. Could this be true?

My short answer: No.

My comment:

Let’s get some things straight.

1. I like Billy.

I think Billy writes beautifully. Often, he lifts the curtain for us to see the fool behind it. And, sometimes, it is us. Last but not least, Billy shares with his head, hands, and heart.

I especially like his recent blog posts about the sinking ship, his hand me down iPhone 3GS, and breaking the egg in social media.

2. Billy is right! He’s right that if you want to speak to the world, you’ll have to do it in a way that’s easy to consume. And video is perfect.

3. The dawn of Idiocracy is upon us.

a. The proliferation of crappy and copyright infringed video and music will suck more than the proliferation of crappy writing and copyright infringed copy.

b. And most people will be ok with that. [laughing]

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Billy is right on. If you want to engage people beyond your core service or business and direct interaction, video is as good as crack.

As I mentioned in a recent discussion on #kiwkchat, video is the obvious win-win if…

1. If you can afford to do it right
2. If it can be done to the level of your brand
3. If it can be done to the level of your customer’s expectations of your services/product/offer

I have had the opportunity to direct video production, serve as a creative director on video story production, write scripts and stories, and assist in the recording of voices, music, and sound. Without any formal education, training, or certification! But with some help from young professionals who knew a few things – but not all things.

Sometimes, it turned out ok-ish.

Ok-ish isn’t cheap. It was cheaper, of course, than going to a professional film maker slash advertising production company.

$15,000 for something ok-ish. I saved about $10,000 each time. I was thrilled about the savings for our self-promo work. And so were my clients when it was client work.

Did I mention that I already had a team of salaried graphic designers, illustrators and fine artists, and audio engineers for the software development that I was doing? Not to mention that I paid for professional consulting at “friendly” rates.

OK, yes, the proliferation of amateur and bad video has diminished our sensibilities and prolly we can get away with okish things easily for $10,000 a pop. And I know plenty of professionals that are ready to work with me on client work. These days, they’ll do a gig for about $15,000.

The Youtube platform also reduces these costs because if we are only talking about YouTube quality: the quality of picture and sound don’t require all of the art, technology, and skill that goes into something being presented well on a 50-inch or wider screen with 5.1 surround sound.

I am not a professional videographer. Nor am I a professional film maker. I’m all about the online thing and, yes, it is also true that everything happens online. Anyway, I do have friends that serve Hollywood and the like. And they don’t think I’m talking out of my ass.

Aside:

How come no one ever wonders how a nobody like me got background vocals from Robert Pattinson, the male lead of the hit movie Twilight, for my podcast, Do not be afraid?

So, let’s say you find someone who agrees to make you 12 videos/year for $84,000. For something ok-ish. If your market is 10s of millions (or more) of customers, it would be stupid not to do it. Or if you want to market to 10s of millions of potential customers. OR if your revenues are 10s of millions of Dollars or Euros.

But even if that’s your situation, it’s prolly something you’ve never done, and you don’t saddle up on new expenses justlikethat [sic].

So here we are, Billy, me, the Jack B (aka Abigail), and Dr. Jack King for example and our economics aren’t in the tens of millions. Not yet. [grin]

What are we going to do?

That’s a lot of hats for one man (or woman) to wear: camera man, graphic artist, video editor, sound engineer, script writer, creative director, producer, and director. And, honestly, I think it’s ridiculous to try to wear that many hats, myself. They just don’t sit well (or topple) on the crown.

What are we going to do?!

Collaboration is the only right answer.

What can you do for the professional videography team? Something that makes it worth it to his/her team to do things with you?

Sometimes we’re looking so hard for a competitive edge… that we will champion a vorpal sword that will, snicker snack, and cut our hands off.

Or toes.

Perhaps, that explains my silly walk.

Oh- below is an unfinished video that I worked on last year. It has a long, long way to go yet.

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Subscribe to Billy Delaney’s Blog, Social Tango

Need more Billy Delaney? Check out the following:

What happens when you place a potential customer before an actual one?

Getting an Education vs Getting Learning!

Ever Feel Like This When You Go Onto The Social Media Stream?

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4. How An Ugly Toe Turned Into A Great Opportunity by Abigail Van Buren (aka The JackB)

Explains Jack:

Sunday afternoon I got out of bed and my legs gave out from under me. It was mutiny most foul and I haven’t a clue why it happened.

But, more importantly, Jack gives thanks:

Thank you universe. You have given me more than I shared and more than I realized.

My comment:

Writes Jack:

Sometimes, pain leads to something better.

Perhaps, it all depends on what we do with that pain.

Do we correct the course? Fill the sail? Turn right more often than spinning around and around?

It’s something to think about.
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Subscribe to Abigail Van Buren’s blog, The Jack B.

Need more Abigail Van Buren? Check out the following:

Blogging Should be Like Great Sex – Fun!

How To Deal With Mean Girls & Mean Moms

How 3,000 Sycophants Made One Man A Better Blogger
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5. I Remember All the Fleas On My Back by J.M. Bell

Bell concludes:

The Elephant Grandmaster would stomp the emissaries’ balls if she got wind of the incident.

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Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Nessun Dorma

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My humble contribution:

“Jiggerface, yeah, how’d he get a face like that?”

I know she was wondering that too. Maybe, it was the new crocodile which wasn’t so new since the new crocodile had been around for at least a nickel’s worth of years.

“Just kill him, bring me his beady face and fat head, and you can have the chick or the car,” she replied and stomped her heavy foot.

“I want both,” I told her as I tossed her a peanut.

The salty peanut distracted her.

“We’ll talk about it,” she said as she swallowed the peanut.

“It savors if you chew,” I suggested. Then, I made a gesture as if about to toss her the brown bag of peanuts.

“Ok-ok-ok. Chick and car. Just do it,” she gasped.

I tossed it to her. She put her face in the bag.

“You know, the peanuts are free at Five Guys,” I laughed. But she was too busy stuffing her face to hear my contempt.
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Subscribe to JM Bell’s blog, Start Your Novel.

Need more JM Bell? Check out the following:

What can Monty Python teach you about writing?

What can Woody Allen teach you about writing?

What can Darth Vader teach you about writing?

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Feedback

If you think that this blog post sucks, let me know in your comment and don’t forget to include a link to YOUR favorite blog post.

If you think this blog post rocks, tell me why it rocks in the comment. “Awesome,””Great post,” etc. works for me. Don’t forget to include a link to YOUR most recent blog post.

Subscribe to this blog if you would enjoy keeping up with my thoughts and commentary.

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Stan Faryna
03 February 2012
Bucharest, Romania

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P.S.

No fairies were harmed during the writing and publishing of this blog post.

Blog Soup: @DaveRGallant @BradShorr @pammktgnut @danperezfilms @PaulFlanigan

blog soup 01.30.2012

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Mixed Epiphanies for a Monday

by Stan Faryna

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Enya, Wild Child

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